2024 Six Nations: Week Two Review

The second round saw some enthralling action, with several teams looking to maintain their challenge for the 2024 Six Nations Championship title.

The second round of 2024 Guinness Six Nations action has now come and gone, with all teams looking to strengthen their chances of dethroning Ireland as the reigning Champions of this prestigious championship.

Looking back on the first weekend, Ireland and France opened the latest Six Nations Championship at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille. Andy Farrell’s reigning Champions Ireland came away with a deserved and emphatic 17 – 38 victory to get their defence of the title to the best possible start.

Then came the two games on the Saturday, and the first saw Steve Borthwick’s England travel to Rome to face Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. With the most recent Six Nations triumph coming back in 2020, Steve Borthwick was looking to guide his team to the best of starts this year, and they did after edging Italy 24 – 27 in the end.

Finally, there was the match between two rivals that was to bring the enthralling action of the first weekend of action to a close at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. In what was the tightest game of the lot (in terms of score line), Warren Gatland’s Wales were narrowly defeated 26 – 27 by Gregor Townsend’s Scotland.

Moving on to the fixtures that took place on week two, Scotland and France opened the second round of action at Murrayfield before rivals England and Wales went head to head at Twickenham later that day. Champions Ireland took on Italy at the Aviva Stadium in the final game of week two.

Here, we are going to review each of the games, starting with the opening game of the second round – Scotland against France.

Scotland 16 – 20 France (Saturday 10th February, Murrayfield)

The opening game of the second week of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations action took place between Scotland and France at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. Scotland wanted to follow up their victory against Wales, whilst France were looking to make in two wins in two after they got the better of Scotland last time out.

As it turned out, it would be France who would make it two wins from two out of these two teams, beating Scotland by a margin of 16 – 20. Scotland got one try, whilst the visiting France side got 2. Ben White (6’) got the sole try for Gregor Townsend’s team, whilst it was Gael Fickou (30’) and Louis Bielle-Blarrey (69’) who got the tries for Fabien Galthié’s side.

Scotland scored 3 penalties compared to France’s 2. Finn Russell got all of the home team’s (21’, 29’, 57’), whilst Thomas Ramos got both for France (11’, 76’). In terms of conversions, Scotland got 1, whilst it was France who got the most on the day with 2. It was Finn Russell (8’) for Scotland and Thomas Ramos once again for the visitors (31’, 71’).

When it comes to metres gained, Scotland gained the most with 405 as opposed to their opponent’s 330.7. The home team also won the most turnovers with 6 compared to 4 for France. France did edge it for tackles with 153 to Wales’ 115.

England 16 – 14 Wales (Saturday 10th February, Twickenham)

The second of the three games in the 2024 Guinness Six Nations at the weekend was played between Steve Borthwick’s England and Warren Gatland’s Wales at the iconic Twickenham in what is also a famous rivalry between these two nations. England were looking for a second win in as many games, whilst Wales were looking to pick up their maiden victory of this year’s Championship.

It turned out to be an enthralling and dramatic contest, with England somehow managing to win 16 -14, in what was an incredible comeback after having been 5 – 14 behind at the half time break. In terms of tries, Borthwick’s team got 2 compared to their visitors’ 1. For England, it was Ben Earl (19’) and Fraser Dingwall (62’) with their team’s tries, whilst it was Alex Mann for Wales (37’).

Whilst Wales scored no penalties, England got two. George Ford got both (47, 71’). The home side got no conversions, whilst their visitors got one, thanks to Ioan Lloyd (38’). Both teams had the same number of turnovers, won each with 2.

In terms of metres gained, England gained marginally more with 277.3 in comparison to Wales’ 245.1. Steve Borthwick’s side also made more tackles, with 149 – Gatland’s side made 102.

Ireland 36 – 0 Italy (Sunday 11th February, Aviva Stadium)

The third and final game of the weekend of enthralling 2024 Guinness Six Nations action saw holders Ireland take on Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Owen Farrell’s side had, of course, won their first game, and they looked to continue their defence of their title with a second win from as many games, this time against Italy, who had lost their opening game against England in Rome.

It was an emphatic 36 – 0 victory for Ireland in the end, as they got their second with from as many matches in ruthless and enthralling fashion. This was the only game of the weekend that saw one side score no tries, conversions or penalties. Ireland did not score any penalties, but they did get 6 tries and 3 conversions.

The tries for Farrells’ side were scored by Jack Crowley (6’), Dan Sheehan (23’, 49’), Jack Conan (36’), James Lowe (61’) and Calvin Nash (77’). As for the conversions, they were scored by Jack Crowley (24’, 38’) and Harry Byrne (78’).

Ireland gained a lot more metres than their opponents, with 605.8 in comparison to 243 for their opponents. Farrell’s team won 4 turnovers to Italy’s 3, whilst the home side made 88 tackles to Italy’s 202.

Excitement and anticipation are building ahead of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations getting back underway on Saturday, 24th February. Below are all of the Six Nations fixtures for this weekend:

• Ireland v Wales (Saturday, 24th February at the Aviva Stadium) – 14:15.
• Scotland v England (Saturday 24th February at Murrayfield) – 16:45.
• France v Italy (Sunday 25th February at Stade Pierre Mauroy) – 15:00.

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